The Nasarawa State Government has banned people below the age of 18 from participating in mining activities across the state and established a special task force to monitor mining sites and tackle illegal operations.
The Commissioner for Environment, Solid Minerals and Mining, Margaret Elayo, announced the measures in Lafia, saying the decision was aimed at protecting children, improving safety standards and addressing concerns around illegal mining activities.
According to the commissioner, no child below 18 years would be allowed to work or operate within mining sites in the state, including as labourers, errand workers or food vendors.
She said the government had received reports of children being exposed to dangerous conditions at some artisanal mining locations, particularly in areas including Wamba, Nasarawa-Eggon and Kokona Local Government Areas.
Elayo said the newly created monitoring and enforcement team had been empowered to inspect mining communities and sites across the state, identify operators working without proper licences and take action against violations.
She explained that companies, mining operators or parents found violating the directive could face prosecution under relevant child protection laws and mining regulations.
The commissioner advised mining operators to employ only adults who are properly trained and provided with appropriate safety equipment. She also urged parents and community members to discourage children from participating in mining activities because of the risks involved.
The state government said the move was not intended to stop mining operations but to ensure that mining activities are carried out responsibly and in compliance with safety and regulatory requirements.
Nasarawa is one of Nigeria’s mineral-rich states, with deposits including lithium, tin, gold and other solid minerals. The growth of artisanal mining activities has increased the need for stronger regulation, environmental protection and improved safety measures.
The latest action follows renewed national attention on mining safety after the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Niger State while they were in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Authorities are still investigating the circumstances surrounding those deaths.
The Nasarawa government said it would continue working with security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders and relevant federal authorities to enforce mining regulations and promote safer practices.
It also stated that efforts were ongoing to organise artisanal miners into recognised cooperatives to improve regulation, monitoring and access to safer working conditions.
The task force is expected to begin monitoring mining locations across the state as the government moves to prevent child labour and reduce unsafe mining practices.
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